Sri Lanka held parliamentary elections on November 14, 2024, with 17.1 million registered voters choosing from 8,800 candidates to elect 225 parliamentarians through a mixed electoral system.

Newsweek

Independent

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's National People's Power party, which currently holds only three seats, seeks to secure 113 seats for a parliamentary majority to implement economic reforms.

The election follows Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis, which led to a 2022 debt default, IMF bailout, and the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid mass protests.

Under the electoral system, 196 seats are directly elected while 29 seats are allocated based on nationwide proportional representation, with results expected on Friday.

The poverty rate in Sri Lanka has risen to 25.9 percent over the past four years, with the World Bank forecasting only 2.2 percent economic growth in 2024.

BBC News

Nearly two-thirds of former MPs chose not to seek re-election, marking a potential generational shift in Sri Lankan politics as younger candidates campaign on anti-corruption platforms.

The NPP represents a clean break from corrupt traditional politics and offers real systemic change through anti-corruption measures, economic reforms, and abolishing the executive presidency, which is essential for Sri Lanka's recovery from its financial crisis.

Why Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election today matters for its future

The rapid rise of an inexperienced NPP leadership threatens stability and economic recovery, as many candidates lack political experience and their Marxist-leaning policies could jeopardize the IMF agreement and international debt restructuring efforts.

Sri Lanka Votes in Crucial Test for New Marxist President

The Spin

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sri Lanka Votes in Crucial Test for New Marxist President

The Spin

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters